As the shipping community prepares for the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 to enter into force on 20 August 2013, many questions are being asked about the impact this Convention will have on the shipping sector.

Real estate companies, managing agents and facili¬ties/services providers alike have all been faced with uncertainty over the last 18 months as to the applicability of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) to property transactions.

In a case which is progressing through the European Court of Justice (ECJ) the Advocate General (AG) has given her opinion, that paid annual leave should correspond to a worker's average earnings which includes certain supplements the worker is usually paid.

A number of new legislative provisions will be coming into force from 6 April 2010 and notice has been given of other provisions coming into effect in April 2011. The key changes for employers to keep in mind are dealt with in this bulletin.